Transfer quarterback embracing leadership role as St. Joseph prepares for Bergen Catholic
Editor's note: The St. Joseph-Bergen Catholic game was moved to 1 p.m. Sunday.
MONTVALE − Patrick Grusser embraces chaos.
Growing up in a house with three other sports-playing siblings − and four dogs − gave him the knowledge that things can shift in a hurry.
“It’s a little, crazy household,” Grusser said with a smile. “My parents did a great job.”
This may explain why the St. Joseph Regional senior quarterback seems to do his best work when things break down on the field. Running the Drew Gibbs quick strike offense under Green Knights offensive coordinator Brian Gibbs, Grusser has thrown for 1,265 yards and nine touchdowns, and run for five more scores, this season.
He’s exactly what coaches look for in a dual-threat QB. He can make a quick read and find the open man, but if you take that option away, he’ll run for a big gain.
Grusser, 18, will be in the spotlight Saturday at The Jack in Oradell when the No. 2-ranked Green Knights take on No. 1-ranked Bergen Catholic. It’s the biggest game in the New Jersey non-public regular season.
RANKINGS: Statewide football rankings ahead of No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup
Both teams are 5-1. Bergen Catholic has won the last two state titles. The top seed in the Non-Public A playoffs is likely at stake. And St. Joseph coach Dan Marangi has not beaten the Crusaders since taking over in 2020.
It’s going to be loud and chaotic.
“I definitely think we have to possess the ball and take it away on defense,” Grusser said. “We have to score as much as we can and stay true to our coaching. What Coach Marangi preaches to us every week is go 1-0 every play. I think as long as we do that we will be successful in this game.”
Transfer from DePaul
The last time Grusser faced Bergen Catholic turned into a major crossroad in his football career. At the time, he was starting quarterback for DePaul. He suffered a concussion in the loss, missed a few games, then came back and broke a bone in his foot. Spartans freshman quarterback Derek Zammit entered the picture and guided the Spartans to a Non-Public B state title.
Grusser holds no hard feelings against DePaul, but knew if he wanted to play in 2023 he’d likely have to find a new home. He took advantage of the relaxed New Jersey transfer rules and came to St. Joe’s.
“Right away, I met people that changed my life forever,” Grusser said. “I have brothers here that I will know forever.”
Transfers are a way of life in high school and college athletics, but for a quarterback to make the leap is a big deal. Quarterbacks are the de facto leaders of their team and to have a new guy show up and take the ball can mess with a team’s chemistry.
Marangi said Grusser stepped into the role seamlessly.
“He just had that natural ability,” Marangi said. “He came in and we had an open competition and they both (Monte Krkuti and Grusser) benefitted from the competition. I think the fact that they were competing and taking the lead, the kids responded to that.”
Family connections
Grusser has an additional resource he can count on. His older brother, Jack, played quarterback at Ramapo in the same offense Patrick is now running. Jack is now a freshman at Michigan, listed as a wide receiver. (Younger brother Casey is currently a sophomore quarterback at Ramapo, and sister Mary is a star soccer player at Ramapo. Patrick concedes right away that Mary is the best athlete of the four.)
Patrick and Jack talk a lot about football, and Patrick admits its nice to have an older brother who can speak the same ‘offensive terminology’ language.
“I don’t think I’d be in the position I am without my brother and my little brother, playing one-on-one and competing every day,” Patrick said. “I think that really shaped me to be who I am today.”
Patrick hasn’t found a college home yet. Getting hurt last year cooled his recruiting prospects. The impact of the transfer portal at the college level is also an obstacle. Marangi said he’s talked to college coaches who would rather take a 21-year-old from the portal than an 18-year-old out of high school.
“Someone is going to get an awesome quarterback,” Marangi said. “I have seen a lot of quarterbacks come through and he’s got all the intangibles. He can make all the throws. Somebody is going to get very lucky with that.”
Patrick doesn’t sound too worried. He’d love to find a spot to play quarterback. Big school, small school, whatever. In the midst of chaos, he will find the right path.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Patrick Grusser: St. Joseph quarterback embracing leadership role
